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Assistive Technology Education at WSU

Students and staff form a pit crew to test the fit of a little girl to her new ride-on toy car from GoBabyGo.

Human-Centered Design

The Wichita State College of Engineering oversees multiple student-led extracurricular projects and courses that teach students about human-centered design and give them an opportunity to apply it to serve our community members with disabilities. Students in engineering collaborate with students from all majors across campus in these applied projects; students meet their customers and build empathy as they learn their challenges, students apply their technical skills to design and prototype a solution with the client's feedback, and then hand-deliver a custom product to improve their client's quality of life.

While the courses and lab spaces are provided by the college, we need your support to sponsor these life-changing projects to cover materials and supplies. Read more about each organizatin below and considering sponsoring today!

Consider Sponsoring:

  • WSU GoBabyGo

    The Wichita State University College of Engineering sponsors WSU GoBabyGo, a program that modifies off-the-shelf ride-on toy cars for kids with disabilities. Students from engineering collaborate with physical therapy students to customize each car and deliver them at no cost to the family. 

    Consider sponsoring a car:

    • $400 for a car with simple modifications
    • $700 for a complex build (joystick, etc.)

    Nearly 150 children have received custom ride-on cars since 2016, with another 20 anticipated in 2022. While these cars are toys--not therapy devices or medical equipment--they do help the children towards their therapy goals in a fun way!

  • Walkin' & Rollin'

    Every child deserves a cool costume. Sometimes, though, that’s a little more challenging for those in walkers and wheelchairs. Students from engineering collaborate with the cosplay student group and other students from across campus to get these fun and unique costumes ready just in time for Halloween!

    Consider sponsoring a costume:

    • $400 for a simple costume creation
    • $600 for a complex costume creation

    Two children received a custom wheelchair costume when we began in 2021 and we will build 3 costumes in fall 2022. Pictured here is Queen Elsa in her Ice Palace, which was the talk of her neighborhood on Halloween night!

  • 3D Printed Prosthetics

    3D Printed Prosthetics is a program led by students for students to acquire real world experience with 3D printed prosthetics. Students with various backgrounds in engineering, physical therapy, and more, will meet with customers to design and create custom prosthetics free of charge.

    Consider sponsoring a prosthetic:

    • Cost varies based on client's needs, beginning at $1,000 per prosthetic

    Nearly 10 clients have received a custom 3D printed prosthetic since 2018, including one girl who is using it to play cello!

  • Accessible Design Course

    The ENGR 302 Accessible Design course matches up small multidisciplinary teams of students with people in our community with disabilities and teaches students to design and create custom assistive technology devices for clients. Projects vary each semester based on need.

    Considering sponsoring a class project:

    • Adaptive Bicycle $300
    • All-terrain Jogging Wheelchair $400
    • Communication Boards $500
    • Other projects average $400

    The course serves approximately six clients each semester it is taught; nearly 25 clients have received custom assistive products since the course began in 2020. Wichita Adaptive Sports even received ten custom 3D-printed push gloves for their high school wheelchair track athletes!

Assistive Technology & Accessible Design

Wichita State’s undergraduate certificate in assistive technology and accessible design is an interdisciplinary program useful for any major wanting to create innovations that improve learning, working and daily living for people with disabilities. Students will learn from faculty all across campus and work with service providers to design and create products and equipment. This certificate program positions students for further professional certification from RESNA--the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America--which will prepare students for employment in the assistive technology field. Students in this certificate program take ENGR 302 and complete an applied project in the community.

WSU Foundation, ATTN Alyssa Scott Hoffine

1845 Fairmount St.
Wichita, Kansas 67260-0002
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